Hey guys! Can someone clarify the difference between the ACT composite score and total score, if there is one? I'm a bit confused about how exactly the ACT is scored. Thanks!
Hey there! I'd be happy to clear up any confusion about ACT scores. The ACT test has four sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each section is scored on a scale of 1 to 36, with 36 being the highest possible score.
The ACT composite score is actually the same as the total score. The composite score is calculated by taking the average of the four section scores (English, Math, Reading, and Science) and rounding to the nearest whole number. So if you scored a 30 in English, a 32 in Math, a 28 in Reading, and a 34 in Science, your composite score would be (30 + 32 + 28 + 34) / 4 = 31.
There might be some confusion with the term "total score" because of how the SAT is scored. The SAT has two main sections, Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, and Math, each scored on a scale of 200 to 800. The SAT total score is the sum of these two section scores, which results in a total score ranging from 400 to 1600. However, the ACT does not use this scoring method - rather, your score for the whole exam is based on the average of the four sections, not the sum of them.
I hope this explanation clears things up. Let me know if you have any more questions. Good luck with your ACT prep!
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